'Surviving Not Living': Warning Over Worsening Levels Of Poverty In UK

The collapse of the UK's social contract is leaving millions of low income families "surviving not living" and forced to endure unacceptable levels of poverty, according to an independent cross-party report.

- Patrick Butler

The Poverty Strategy Commission, which seeks to forge a national political consensus on reducing poverty, and which includes former ministers from the three main parties, says poverty levels are too high and hardship is becoming more extreme. It warns a "more of the same" approach to poverty in the future will fail.

It estimates the annual cost of significantly reducing poverty in the UK at £36bn £6,000 a year for 6 million families in poverty - a figure reached through a combination of benefits and wage increases, investment to lower housing and energy costs, and improved health services.

The interim report of the commission, published today, seeks to put poverty reduction back on the party political agenda before the next general election. It is concerned at the lack of urgency from the two main parties over the scale and nature of poverty, and society's failure to offer adequate protection to its poorest.